Dominating the game

The girls basketball team has led a successful season this year

The girl’s basketball team has been successful during this year’s season with their recent Sectional Championship win, with a few players being committed to colleges to continue playing at the next level. Surrounded by talent and skill, sophomore Neveah Dickman expresses how playing with successful players impacts her.

“Playing with [talented teammates] helps to push me harder,” Dickman said. “I have to play up to their level in a way.”

In the United States, there are over 400,000 girls basketball players. The game is widespread and allows for multiple forms of inspiration to play the game.

“Just watching it with my dad growing up, I fell in love with the game,” Hailey Smith said. “I have had a ball in my hands since I was three years old.”

According to Hailey Smith, multiple people in her life now serve as role models for her in her life and within the game of basketball.

“My trainer, Coach Nick made me see a different side of the game and elevated my game so much,” Hailey Smith said. “[As

Lizzie Payne paynenic002@hsestudents.org

do] my coaches who hold me accountable and continue to push me to do better.”

Hailey Smith believes the impact that her coaches have left on her will continue to stay strong and apply on and off of the court. Her sister, senior Olivia Smith, also takes inspiration from the NBA approach and style in the game. They believe the skill displayed by professionals provides an example for others to base their game off of.

“I think my game models Jimmy Butler and [Russel] Westbrook the most,” Olivia Smith said. “Just the way they get down the hill and can play every position.”

Olivia Smith discussed how she stays motivated to play year after year and how having NBA role models keeps her motivated. Players like Jimmy Butler provide an example that inspires her to keep going.

“What keeps me motivated is I have a goal that I want to reach and that is to play overseas or [in the] WNBA,” Olivia Smith said. “The role models keep me motivated in just the simple fact of they have made it.”

Dickman talked about her main goals for her time playing high school basketball and further beyond, including the dreams that help her pursue what she does.

“My main goal for high school basketball is to win a state championship,” Dickman said. “Another goal I have is to be able to make a difference on the court at a varsity level. My dream of playing college basketball is what motivates me to work hard every day.”

The emphasis on a state championship is high, especially since Fishers High School for girl’s basketball is listed in 4A with 101 other schools. The IHSAA has four different divisions for basketball and 4A is the highest level that schools can register for within high school basketball. The expectations for a state championship comes from their skill and success level throughout the series of games played in the season.

“Our team is so special and I am so glad I get to be a part of it,” Dickman said. “We are graduating a lot of amazing seniors this year so we are going to make this year count.”